JULY 6-16
DGA - Harmony Gold - REDCAT
The 35th edition of OUTFEST, the Los Angeles pre-eminent LGBT Film Festival, returns with a vast and diverse selection of highly acclaimed films from around the world. The festival showcases the best American and International LGBT feature films, documentaries, and shorts, followed by receptions at the atrium of the DGA and after-parties in West Hollywood.
God's Own Country
Opening Night Gala
Directed by: Francis Lee
God's Own Country
(United Kingdom, 2017, 104 min)
Gritty yet tender, desolate yet beautiful, carnal yet romantic: God’s Own Country is a masterpiece directed with powerful focus and authenticity by first-time feature filmmaker Francis Lee. Johnny Saxby (Josh O’Connor) is an overworked 25-year-old sheep farmer who feels as though life has already passed him by. He whiles away the time with drunken hookups in his small community in Northern England. When his ailing father takes a turn for the worse, handsome Romanian migrant Gheorghe (Alec Secareanu) is brought in to assist Johnny. Although Johnny resents Gheorghe at first, the two are quickly drawn to each other, and during an excursion to the highlands, they forge an even deeper connection.
Freak Show
(USA, 2017, 91 min)
Southern California Premiere
Directed by: Trudie Styler
Teenager Billy Bloom (Alex Lawther, THE IMITATION GAME) learned fabulousness at the feet of his larger-than-life Muvv (Bette Midler). But when he’s shipped off to live with his conservative father (Larry Pine), Billy’s classmates at Ulysses S. Grant Academy don’t know what to make of this flamboyant newcomer and his seemingly endless array of colorful ensembles (with matching makeup). After being severely bullied, Billy bounces back with the help of his new friends, sensitive jock Flip (Ian Nelson, THE HUNGER GAMES) and the loquacious BlahBlahBlah (AnnaSophia Robb). Eventually, our glamorous hero decides to wave his freak flag as high as he can by running for homecoming queen, even if that means facing off against Bible-thumping mean girl Lynette (Abigail Breslin).
Behind the Curtain: Todrick Hall
(USA, 2017, 100 min)
West Coast Premiere
Directed by: Katherine Fairfax Wright
Last year Todrick Hall, the singer, dancer, actor, director, AMERICAN IDOL sensation, and YouTube superstar unveiled his biggest project yet: THE WIZARD OF OZ—inspired musical STRAIGHT OUTTA OZ. Influenced largely by his small-town Texas upbringing and his close relationship with his conservative Christian mother, Hall brings this deeply personal yet ambitious project to fruition over the course of this up-close-and-personal documentary.
Close-Knit
Centerpiece Screening
(Japan, 2017, 127 min)
West Coast Premiere
Directed by: Naoko Ogigami
This warm, witty exploration of unconventional family and unconditional love won the Teddy Jury Award at the Berlin International Film Festival. The award's message of solidarity and equality is epitomized in this film, hailed by critics as breaking new ground for trans narratives in Japanese cinema.
KEVYN AUCOIN Beauty & The Beast In Me
(USA, 2017, 90 min)
World Premiere
Directed by: Lori Kaye
This extraordinary film documents renowned celebrity makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin, who fought his way from rural Louisiana to become the most sought after makeup artist of his time. At the heart of the documentary is an abundance of never before seen archival footage of some of the most iconic moments in fashion history, shot by Kevyn himself throughout his life and career. Intimate and uncensored moments with the celebrated paragons of 80s and 90s fashion and pop culture include Naomi Campbell, Cher, Cindy Crawford, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Andie MacDowell, Paulina Porizkova, Tina Turner, and Amber Valletta. Interviews with celebrities, colleagues, family, friends, and former lovers explain and share why they think Kevyn was able to achieve all of his dreams and create so much beauty, yet struggled to see the beauty within himself. This World Premiere is produced by Logo Documentary Films and Putti Media.
Strangers
(USA, 2016, 115 min)
West Coast Premiere
Directed by: Mia Lidofsky, Celia Rowlson-Hall
Newly single and bisexual, Isobel rents out her spare room in a last ditch effort to keep the home she loves. Along with her lesbian best friend, Cam, she navigates the most complicated time in her life—emotionally, sexually, and professionally. As Isobel begins to share her life with a revolving door of colorful characters, their zany antics challenge her perspective and help open her up to a new way of looking at the world. From navigating her first relationship with another woman, to grappling with career dissatisfaction, Isobel ventures into uncharted territory with hilarity and sincerity.
Beautiful Thing
Legacy Project
Legacy Project
(United Kingdom, 1996, 90 min)
Directed by: Hettie Macdonald
Released in 1996, this beloved coming-of-age classic tells the story of two teenage boys, living in the same London housing project, who hold the same secret: they think they might be gay. After a fight with his abusive father, Steve ends up crashing in Jamie's bed, allowing the two to open up to each other and begin the process of embracing their identities. Two decades after its initial release, the film still stands as one of the most poignant and honest depictions of the coming out process ever presented on screen.
Chasing Amy
(USA, 1997, 113 min)
Directed by: Kevin Smith
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Kevin Smith’s iconic film. Both beloved and dismissed by members of the LGBTQ community, this film explores the complexities of friendship and sexuality. Holden McNeil (Ben Affleck) and Banksy (Jason Lee) are best friends and comic book artists. When the two meet fellow comic book artist Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams) at a convention, Holden is immediately smitten, only to discover Alyssa is a lesbian. However, as the two become closer as friends, the lines begin to blur.
Muchachas de Uniforme
Girls in Uniform
Girls in Uniform
Legacy Project
International Narratives
Directed by: Marcelo Caetano
International Narratives
I Dream in Another Language
International Narratives
Directed by: Ernesto Contreras
Directed by: Maysaloun Hamoud
International Narratives
International Narratives
(Mexico, 1951, 83 min)
Directed by: Alfredo B. Crevenna
Likely the first time this film has been screened in the United States since its release, this drama is a rarely-seen Mexican remake of the iconic German film Mädchen in Uniform. Orphaned Manuela enters a strict boarding school dominated by an overbearing headmistress. She finds protection in Lucila, a young teacher for whom Manuela builds a strong affection, but this crush could get them both in trouble.
4 Days in France
Jours de France
International Narratives
(France, 2016, 142 min)
Directed by: Jérôme Reybaud
One morning, Pierre quietly leaves his sleeping boyfriend Paul in their Paris apartment, hops in a gleaming white Alfa Romeo, and heads for the gorgeous French countryside, embarking on a series of anonymous encounters. Before long, Paul sets off in pursuit, using Grindr to track his wandering lover. In this twisting road trip movie, full of charming and unexpected moments, both men meet a series of beguiling strangers, propelling each other to a destination neither of them expected.
Body Electric
Corpo Eletrico
Corpo Eletrico
(Brazil, 2017, 93 min)
First-time filmmaker Marcelo Caetano gracefully weaves a warm, sensual tale that captures the charm of young working people and the beauty of the changing sexual landscape in Brazil. Carefree Elias works at a textile factory, juggling long shifts with animated nights out and no-strings sexual encounters. As he tries to discern where his future might lead him, Elias learns to take pleasure in the small things in life.
Center of My World
Die Mitte der Welt
International Narratives
(Austria, Germany, 2016, 115 min)
Directed by: Jakob M. Erwa
Bursting with the erratic euphoria that fuels our teenage emotions, wide-eyed high schooler Phil (Louis Hofman, Oscar-nominated LAND OF MINE) finds his humdrum life turned upside-down by the arrival of a strapping young track star. Navigating first love, and an escalating feud between his counter-culture mom and rebellious sister, Phil is forced to confront the reality of his rose-colored point of view. First-time director Jakob M. Erwa imbues this coming-of-age story with pops of panache, creating a vibrant mosaic of adolescence.
The City of the Future
A Cidade do Futuro
International Narratives
(Brazil, 2016, 76 min)
West Coast Premiere
Directed by: Claudio Marques, Marilia Hughes Guerreiro
In a remote part of Brazil, the triad of Mila, Igor, and Gilmar are determined to break away and form their own nontraditional family, defying the definitions that society has attempted to impose on them. As they prepare for the birth of their child, the three contemplate their intertwining relationships. Cláudio Marques and Marília Hughes Guerreiro have boldly collaborated on a naturalistic film that shuns convention, instead embracing love in all its dazzling iterations.
A Date for Mad Mary
International Narratives
Directed by: Darren Thornton
(Ireland, 2016, 82 min)
Mary's charms are undeniable in this Irish coming-of-age portrayal of the angsty path from youth to womanhood. Mary has just been released from a six-month prison stint for a drunken bar fight. Her best friend Charlene is now getting married and wants to keep Mary at a distance, alienating her from their circle of friends. An encounter with a queer musician changes Mary's perspective and awakens her romantic spirit. Filmmaker Darren Thornton's first feature is warm and instantly relatable.
Fathers
(Thailand, 2016, 96 min)
North America Premiere
Directed by: Palatpol Mingpornpichit
Striking couple Phoon and Yuke, urban professionals in their 30s, seemingly have it all—except for one thing: they've always dreamt of being parents. When they adopt the adorable young boy Butr, the pair become "Daddy" and "Papa" and their family is complete. However, schoolyard bullying and interference from prejudiced parents brings unwelcome attention from child protective services. A tender portrait of same-sex fatherhood, this film makes a heartfelt plea in support of rainbow families.
I Dream in Another Language
(Mexico, Netherlands, 2017, 103 min)
Winner of the Audience Award at Sundance, this romantic drama is sure to please. Martin, a handsome linguist, travels to a Mexican jungle to record audio of Zikril, an indigenous language on the verge of disappearing. But the last two remaining speakers, Evaristo and Isauro, have not spoken for 50 years due to a lovers’ quarrel. Can Martin persuade the men to reconnect in order to save their language? This epic sensory experience explores the impact of cultural identity on matters of the heart.
In Between
Bar Bahar
International Narratives
(France, Israel, 2016, 96 min)
Three Palestinian women share an apartment in the bustling city of Tel Aviv, as they attempt to break away from the expectations of their families and society. Laila, an outspoken lawyer who parties hard, and Salma, a lesbian DJ from a conservative Christian family, take in new roommate Nour, a devout Muslim studying for her degree despite her fiancé's protests. Buoyed by a sparkling cast, Maysaloun Hamoud's taboo-breaking first feature expertly navigates the culture clash among religious, gender, cultural, and ethnic divides.
Paths
Ein Weg
International Narratives
(Germany, 2017, 108 min)
USA Premiere
Directed by: Chris Miera
For anyone in a relationship who’s ever asked themselves, "How did we get here, anyway?" comes this poignant and impassioned tale of a love that’s reached an impasse. Furniture designer and single father Andreas falls for Martin, and as the years go by, we see the ebb and flow of their lives together, both deeply in love and falling apart at the seams, even as their son Max grows into manhood. Movingly acted and directed, this story avoids flashy melodrama in favor of the discrete, everyday intimacies that couples create together over time.
Rift
Rökkur
(Iceland, 2017, 111 min)
North America Premiere
Directed by: Erlingur Thoroddsen
When Gunnar reluctantly answers a late-night phone call from Einar, his ex-boyfriend, he’s concerned: Einar sounds disturbed and capable of hurting himself. Gunnar travels to the secluded cabin where Einar is holed up and quickly discovers that someone, or something, is relentlessly stalking them both. As sparse and chilling as a northern winter, this Icelandic thriller will keep you guessing and leave you haunted.
Santa & Andres
(Cuba, 2016, 105 min)
Southern California Premiere
Directed by: Carlos Lechuga
Cuba, 1981: For many, the wounds of the revolution have begun to heal, although there are still those who refuse to be compliant with the regime's silencing of intellectuals and LGBTQ people. Gay writer Andrés spends three days under house arrest, supervised by young revolutionary Santa, who knows nothing of life away from the countryside. During this brief period, the pair form an unpredictable bond. Subtle and moving, yet boldly political and provocative, this is a story of day-to-day lives affected by sweeping change.
Tamara
International Narratives
Directed by: Elia K. Schneider
Tom of Finland
International Narratives
Documentary Features
(Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, 2016, 110 min)
This extraordinary biopic follows the true story of Venezuela's first transgender politician Tamara Adrián. Conservative Tomás builds a life as a successful lawyer and devoted husband and father, despite having always felt female on the inside. A sojourn in Paris frees Tamara to assert herself, and a lengthy battle with Venezuelan authorities over misgendered ID papers turns her into an activist who eventually decides to run for office. Powerful performances anchor this acclaimed portrait of a real-life, present-day heroine.
Tom of Finland
(Finland, 2017, 115 min)
Directed by: Dome Karukoski
Directed by: Dome Karukoski
His unabashedly sexual drawings-featuring leather-clad studs of all stripes-shaped the fantasies and fetishes of generations of gay men, but who was Tom of Finland? This acclaimed film follows the life of artist Touko Laaksonen, from the trenches of WWII through the repression of the 1950s to the explosion of gay liberation, which his artwork helped inspire. Moving and inspiring, this stirring biopic pays tribute to one of the great pioneers of erotic art, who happily called Los Angeles home during the latter years of his life.
The Wound
Inxeba
International Narratives
(South Africa, 2017, 88 min)
Directed by: John Trengove
In the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, a group of young men head to a remote mountain camp to be initiated into manhood. Matched with mentors who lead them though this ancient Xhosa rite of passage, the expectations of masculinity create a pressure-filled environment for Xolani, who harbors a secret about his identity. Singer Nakhane Touré, a Xhosa tribe member, plays the lead role in this captivating film that offers insight into a cultural tradition rarely explored onscreen.
Bones of Contention
(Spain, USA, 2017, 75 min)
Directed by: Andrea Weiss
The brutal Franco dictatorship continues to haunt Spain—literally, as some 120,000 skeletons of the Fascist leader's enemies were buried in unmarked graves all over the country. If one man has come to symbolize all of these desaparecidos, it's legendary poet and playwright Federico Garcia-Lorca, whom this film calls "the first LGBT victim of the Franco regime." Director Andrea Weiss examines the men and women (including the writer's niece, Laura) who recall Spain's homophobic past and seek to exhume it by finding these remains.
Boys for Sale
Documentary Features
Directed by: Itako
Documentary Features
Directed by: Catherine Gund, Daresha Kyi
Documentary Features
Directed by: David France
Documentary Features
Directed by: Tristan Ferland Milewski
Documentary Features
Directed by: Jeffrey Schwarz
Directed by: Cristina Herrera Borquez
(Japan, 2017, 76 min)
In Tokyo’s Shinjuku district there are bars that specialize in "Urisen", young guys who have sex with men. Featuring candid interviews and interspersed with animation detailing the awkward, sweet, and sometimes hilarious situations these sex workers experience, the boys for sale boldly tell their stories of life in the Tokyo underground. This doc is an illuminating look into a rarely seen world that tantalizingly shows the humanity of sex work.
Chavela
(Mexico, Spain, USA, 2017, 90 min)
This stunning documentary captures the significance of Mexico’s most beloved lesbian Rancheras icon—Chavela Vargas—a rebellious, solitary and profoundly wounded trailblazer. An unforgettable journey through the enigmatic life of Chavela, this lyrical love letter interweaves never-before-seen interview footage and mesmerizing musical portraits of her most famous soul-gripping songs. From the spotlight of the stage, Chavela’s tortured vocals and unapologetic queer sensibility inspired a deeply patriarchal culture to love, to cry, and to feel, redefining entrenched gender traditions. You’ll never forget it.
The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson
(USA, 2017, 105 min)
A fixture in NYC’s Greenwich Village and a stalwart advocate for gay rights, Marsha P. Johnson was a beloved, vivacious trans woman who has been called the Rosa Parks of the LGBTQ movement. Her tragic death in July 1992 was quickly dismissed as suicide by the NYPD. Director David France (Oscar-nominated HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE) uses his background in investigative journalism to dig deeper into the mystery of Marsha’s death while highlighting the very real dangers trans people still face.
Dream Boat
(Germany, 2017, 92 min)
Decked from port to starboard in tops and bottoms, this cruise sets sail every year with leagues of gay men hungry to find their own slice of paradise on the open seas. International waters provide the perfect platform to explore the ecstasy, agony, hopes, and dreams that bridge this community behind the bacchanalia, revealing a manifest rife with intersections between the diverse identities aboard, a brotherhood across borders.
The Fabulous Allan Carr
(USA, 2017, 90 min)
Director Jeffrey Schwarz (VITO, I AM DIVINE) returns with this fascinating look at Allan Carr, one of the most extravagant Hollywood figures of the 1970s and 80s. The film charts Carr’s rise from talent manager to megastar producer of GREASE, before he perpetrated the box-office blunders CAN’T STOP THE MUSIC and GREASE 2, as well as the disastrous 1989 Academy Awards ceremony. Featuring new interviews and archival footage of Carr’s legendary parties, this portrait of a showbiz legend is both hilarious and deeply sympathetic.
No Dress Code Required
Etiqueta no rigurosa
Documentary Features
(Mexico, 2017, 92 min)
Stylists Victor and Fernando made many Mexicali brides look beautiful on their wedding day, but when they decide to marry, the pair begin a complicated journey requiring them to navigate Baja California's legal system and labyrinthine bureaucracies. Neither bomb threats nor accusations of mental illness stop these determined men from marrying in their hometown. An Outfest Fusion favorite, this compelling and poignant documentary reminds us that the fight for global marriage equality is nowhere near over.
For a complete list of films and screening schedule please visit: OUTFEST 2017
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